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ADNAN OKTAR: So [this note says that] the link is ready and we can patch through when we like. All right, give me some information about the person we are linking up to first. Show me a picture. Who is he?
MS. DAMLA: Insha'Allah Master. We will be linking up to Ambassador Alan Baker. Mr. Baker who is one of Israel's best-known jurists, served as a legal adviser at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 1996 and 2004. He served as the Israeli ambassador to Canada in 2004-2008. During his 35 years of service in the Israeli government, he was involved in Middle East peace negotiations and various agreements with Israel's neighbors. Ambassador Baker who is the Legal adviser of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also served as an adviser on international law to Israeli prime ministers, foreign ministers, Knesset committees and various government offices. He has represented Israel at international meetings and meetings discussing international criminal law, international law and human rights law. He was also personally involved in drafting agreements regarding the fight against terror. He has also written numerous papers on the international criminal court, international humanitarian law and the Middle East peace process. He also works as director of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, one of Israel's best known think tanks, masha'Allah.
ADNAN OKTAR: Okay, that is nice. Please put me through to the gentleman. Firstly.. Greetings, how are you?
ALAN BAKER: Hello. Fine, thank you. How are you?
ADNAN OKTAR: Thank you. I am also very well. Alhamdulillah, thanks be to Allah. Go ahead, I am listening.
ALAN BAKER: Well, my first question is a question that every Israeli is asking; Every Israeli, I think, is very, very upset and worried about the deterioration in the relationship between our two countries where basically there is so much in common. And my question is whether there is any chance of this relationship being brought back to what is was before the deterioration?
ADNAN OKTAR: Of course, the most important thing to be done is not to use expressions such as, "There are tensions. A chill has grown between us" because there is no such thing. If they try to give the impression that there is, then people will actually believe it. This is something that is being attained through indoctrination. We love the Israeli people. You are the children of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh). You are entrusted to us. We feel a deep love for you. And all Israeli people, devout Israelis, also love the Turkish nation very dearly. They are admirers of Turkey. They come and go. So indoctrinating such a thing would be very wrong.
ALAN BAKER: So if everything is okay, then why is the Prime Minister Erdogan, why is he so hostile to Israel? Why does he whip up such hostility amongst the Turkish public?
ADNAN OKTAR: To maintain there is a hostile attitude going on gives rise to the belief that such is indeed the case. [Mr. Tayyip] Erdogan is a politician. He is Prime Minister of Turkey. He can express his own opinions. But obviously Erdogan's opinion is not that of all of Turkey. Let us imagine that your minister makes a mistake, that he says something wrong; does that reflect the opinion of the Israeli people? No. The Prime Minister's statement does not reflect the general view held by Turkey. He may speak like that for political reasons. But the general public opinion is highly important. If you say, "The public's opinion does not matter, it is the leaders' opinions that count," that will not be right.
ALAN BAKER: Well, look; thank you, but as an international lawyer and a representative of Israel for many, many years what the Prime Minister of a country says is representative of the viewpoint of the country. And we saw that crowds of people in Istanbul or Ankara have come out in demonstrations against Israel; now I understand the flotilla incident was a very emotional incident for Turkey but in actual fact, Mr. Erdogan's negative relationship began long before the flotilla incident when he actually insulted the President of Israel in front of world television. So there seems to be something far deeper here than politics, and this is what makes me, and many other Israelis very very concerned.
ADNAN OKTAR: Look, let me give you some important evidence and you can understand it from that. Such actions may take place for political reasons. But it is the practicalities that matter. And what do we see in practicalities? Turkey has set a missile shield up in Malatya in order to protect Israel. It is setting up a missile, radar system. And the main, I can almost say only, aim is the protection of Israel. And Turkey is taking a great risk here. It has signed up for this, even though it has become a target itself. In the event of a nuclear attack, the nuclear missiles will be stopped within Turkish air space. And Turkey will be at risk. Yet it still takes such an extraordinarily altruistic measure for the sake of protecting Israel. This by itself is clear proof of how much Turkey, the Turkish government love Israel and are determined to protect it. Words are unimportant. It is that actions that speak louder. I also stand as guarantor for the Prime Minister. Do not concentrate on his words against Israel; in his heart, character and soul he is an exceedingly affectionate, compassionate and pure individual. He is sincere and well-intentioned. You can trust him. You like and trust me, so believe in what I say. No problems would arise on that.
ALAN BAKER: Well, thank you; I'm very happy to hear this. I mean it's a great relief, but the question is; would I be safe if I were invited to come to Turkey to speak in a panel of international lawyers? Would I be safe? Would I have reason to fear?
ADNAN OKTAR: Here is like your own home. My Rabbi friends come here. The former Chief Rabbi came here from Israel, deputies have come and state officials. They have all been welcomed in the finest manner here. The Turkish people also showed them their best love and affection. They visited mosques and many places. They were welcomed with love, affection, friendship and brotherhood. They felt themselves more secure in Turkey than in their own homes. They were quite safe. So when you come, it is absolutely certain that you will also be shown love and respect in the best manner. Turkish people are hospitable and warm and virtuous. But there has been a mutual conflict of pride. Such things happen from time to time. One side regards itself as absolutely in the right, as does the other; then both sides make it a matter of pride. And this question of pride persists if there is no arbiter around. We often encounter such things; and this is simply one example of that. That is why there is no true enmity toward Israel in Turkey, no negative policy. Indeed, the progress in trade goes to show this. The approach of Turkish people towards Israel is very positive and compassionate.
ALAN BAKER: Well, well thank you very much. Let me perhaps make a practical suggestion that I think every Israeli would appreciate. If Prime Minister Erdogan were to come out with some statement not hostile to Israel, because every statement that he's made about Israel over the last many months has been very, very negative, I think if the Israeli public were to see some message of sympathy, some message, I don't know, in the light of the festivals, Christmas, Hannukah, the Muslim festivals. If we were able to have some positive message coming from Prime Minister Erdogan, I think this would be very, very important for the public in Israel to see that what you're saying is true.
But I may just add here, excuse me, I think this would be very compatible with the messages you've already given in your discussions with the Chief Rabbi that we have a commonality in our religions, and to base a positive message on religious festivals will probably speak very clearly to the Israeli people and would be accepted very graciously.
ADNAN OKTAR: The Prime Minister made a statement about this before; "I love the Israeli people," he said. "I am only opposed to this policy of the Israeli government." In other words, he said; "My problem is with the Israeli government. I have no problem with the Israeli people, whom I love very much." That is a most significant statement. But words similar to those would of course be beautifying, pleasant and good. But you must know that the King Messiah you have been waiting for 3,000 years has now come. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) has come. Nobody can do Israel any harm now that the King Messiah is here. The Prime Minister would never even think of such a thing, and those days are now in any case over because the foundation of the state of Israel in that land is already a sign of the coming of the King Messiah, Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). Great wars are a sign of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh). From now on an age of peace, brotherhood and beauty has begun. We can see these details in all clarity and with full evidence when we look at the Torah. We see that it is all true. Everything described in the Torah has happened. Everything described by our Prophet (pbuh) in the hadiths has happened. All the portents of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), the King Messiah, have come about. The time has also come according to the Zohar, to reference sources that have come down from the time of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh). The Prophet Abraham (pbuh) points to 2012 in the Zohar; we are nearly in 2012 now. We are now in the age of the King Messiah. We will now embrace the people of Israel. We will all remember Allah together as brothers in Jordan and Egypt and the whole region; we will all enjoy the delights of the age of happiness, the Golden Age, insha'Allah.
ALAN BAKER: Insha'Allah
ADNAN OKTAR: Yes.. Insha'Allah. Prime Minister Erdogan's message to Jewish citizens on the occasion of the Hannukah holiday on December 27th, 2011 read: "Anatolia, the cradle of different cultures and civilizations for hundreds of years, has always been a center of tolerance, dialogue and mutual respect and understanding." He then went on to say, "I once again wish our Jewish citizens who share these ideas a very happy Hannukah, and wish them peace and every happiness."
ALAN BAKER: Well, I'm very happy that he said that, but the fact is that was never really widely reported on the Israeli media, and I think again, I think everything is body language..
ADNAN OKTAR: Trust me, I know the Prime Minister. He is a loving, compassionate and affectionate person we can all trust very much. He published that message officially. But it may not have been heard in Israel. We must strive harder to ensure that is it is heard in Israel. But I am certain and can guarantee that he loves you all and feel compassion for you.
ALAN BAKER: Thank you. Thank you very much, and I'm very reassured by what you say, and let me just add one thing; when I was Israel's ambassador to Canada between 2004 and 2008, my best friend in Canada was the ambassador of Turkey, and we used to meet together twice or three times a week and we had a lot in common, and I'd like this to come back; and I hope very, very sincerely that the relationship will get back to what it should be, because there's a very, very strong connection between the two countries, and we can't allow regional politics, whether it's Iran, or Hamas, or anybody else to try and harm this relationship. That's my message to Prime Minister Erdogan.
ADNAN OKTAR: The protection and well-being of Israel are under the control of Allah, insha'Allah. Allah uses His servants as His instruments. We are in the age of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh), the King Messiah; your hearts can be at ease. We love you all. Allah has entrusted you to us. You are the children of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh). We will all rebuild the Masjid of Solomon altogether, insha'Allah, and open up the borders. We will talk together with our Palestinian and Israeli brothers, and have fun and happy times with them. Let your hearts be at ease.
ALAN BAKER: Thank you very much.
ADNAN OKTAR: Thank you. We will speak again, insha'Allah. I hope to see you in Turkey.
ALAN BAKER: Thank you so much.
ADNAN OKTAR: We hope to see you here. Thank you. Salam.